Yosemite

Yosemite you will see some absolutely amazing landscapes every turn you make. There are a lot of short hikes in this park but also some long ones. Yosemite is actually three parks in one. You have the Yosemite Valley with Half Dome, El Capitan, Glacier Point and Tunnel View. Then you have a drive up to the Toulumne Meadows at a much higher altitude and closed in the winters. The final area is the Mariposa Grove and the giant sequoia trees. This area was closed the last time I visited. Therefore i will be going back in 2020 to see these amazing trees. As I mention for many of these parks I would suggest staying at a hotel inside the parks. The reason for this is usually the drive into the park in the morning. You will hit lines at the entrances going into the parks. By staying in the parks you are there at the best times of the day the early morning and the nights. All the day visitors will be gone and the park is much less crowded. When I visit I usually take a nap or relax in the afternoon during the busy time and wait for the people to all leave. But be ready to plan a visit a year ahead of time as the hotels sell out a year ahead of time.